Powerball jackpot increased to $700 million

January 7, 2016 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:27 AM

Just hours after the Powerball jackpot rolled to a record $675 million annuity, officials announced Thursday morning an increase to $700 million, worth $428.4 million cash.

It is not only the largest jackpot in Powerball history but the biggest jackpot players in the U.S. have ever had the chance to win.

Seven North Carolina Powerball tickets matched four white balls and the Powerball in Wednesday's drawing to win $50,000 each. Those lucky tickets were sold in:

- Monroe (Union Co.), Kangaroo Express on Lancaster Avenue
- Marble (Cherokee Co.), Quick Pantry on N.C. 141
- Wilmington (New Hanover Co.), Third Street Family Fare
- Burlington (Alamance Co.), Food Lion on Ramada Road
- Charlotte (Mecklenburg Co.), Gas N Go Food Mart on Carowinds Boulevard
- Mills River (Henderson Co.), Subway on Cross Road Drive
- Lumberton (Robeson Co.), Exxon on Roberts Avenue

$1 million winner

We would love to see a fifth North Carolina Powerball player win this jackpot and make history. And, as fun as this is, it is important to keep in mind that it only takes one ticket to win – and we encourage folks to play responsibly.

Before the Powerball jackpot is hit, split or rolls again, Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing could make someone a jackpot winner. A $165 million jackpot is up for grabs, or $100.3 million, if you prefer cash.

Stay tuned to the Lucke-Zone and follow the lottery on Twitter for more updates.

46 COMMENTS

1/10/2016 10:36 - NC Lottery

For questions about how to play Powerball including different ways to win prizes, check out the How to Play page on our website: http://bit.ly/McdDJQ

1/10/2016 07:46 - Kamala H.

$1.3B....unbelievable!

1/10/2016 02:19 - JoAnn H.

I have a question. How many states compete for the powerball ?NC Lottery
For more info about Powerball, visit http://www.powerball.com

1/09/2016 07:24 - Antonio W.

This lottery is a RIP OFF I was able to put in a power ball ticket into the second chance before the drawing tonight how is this possible?

1/09/2016 03:30 - shirley b.

Congratulations to all the trip 111 winners!!!Keep those trips in.

1/09/2016 02:33 - shirley b.

N has been almost three years for a quad. We know that is not mathematically possible. NC Lottery
If you like playing Pick 4, please remember that each drawing is an independent event. It does not matter what happened the previous drawings. Any four set of numbers have a 1 in 10,000 chance of being picked in each drawing. Folks who have lucky numbers that aren't quads have the same chance of winning as those who pick quads.

1/09/2016 08:59 - Wilesha M.

LOTTERY STAFF YOU guys need to stop placing 10s and 20s wins on 20 and 30 dollar tickets....wtf. AND keep your second chance ideas and put the real money in the community. Also, while I am venting, why are some store vendors not allowed to operate the machine at certain times in the morning and others vendors are open at 4:30 a.m.NC Lottery
That is up to each store. The lottery doesn't place that restriction on stores. Thanks to folks playing for a chance to win, the lottery now raises half a billion dollars a year for education.

1/08/2016 04:39 - Rodney M.

Random acts of kindness daily for the rest of my life. Good luck everyone. Play safe and don't take the gamble buying tickets if you can't afford it. Love and peace.

1/08/2016 10:53 - Betty M.

I would love to win, I would buy a place and set up a home for Autistic boys and girls over 18. when autistic children reach 18, there is nothing out there for them.

1/08/2016 10:26 - Jerry C.

My turn to hit that BIG one .

1/08/2016 08:09 - roddney h.

Sweet, play responsibly and happy hunting for those winning numbers

1/08/2016 05:34 - Chester W.

I hope the drawing is monitored very, very closely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And no SCAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1/08/2016 03:55 - Sean T.

Please, and Thank You.

1/08/2016 03:44 - Sean T.

Please, and Thank You.

1/08/2016 01:39 - Terry A.

WoW $428.4 million cash, well I would give away the first 100 Million to poor families @ 1,000 per family, that still leaves 328.4 million, so I guess I would have to give away 300 Million more to poor families @ 1,000 per family, that would leave me and my family with 28.4 Million of that I would probably give away half of that,so 14 Million should be good enough ,remember you can't take it with you,it would feel real good to be able to do that,but that is probably why I would never win.Good Luck everyone.

1/08/2016 01:28 - Booker T M.

I be satisfied with 1 or 2 million dollars. If I won that much money, or even shared the winnings, I wouldn't know how to act.

1/08/2016 01:27 - willie mae b.

Will someone ever win in Durham n.c.

1/08/2016 12:58 - FRANCES P.

congrats to winners in north carolina.....and good luck to anyone playing next drawing...

1/07/2016 11:20 - Estela S.

Good Luck to everyone!!!

1/07/2016 11:02 - shequila c.

Boy I need that. I can buy me a house,donate to kidney disease and skin cancer. That my mother had. And help to build or add to happy the homeless.and more.

1/07/2016 10:09 - John S.

If nobody hits. $1,000,000,000.00 here I come. Good luck to all.

1/07/2016 09:49 - Byron S.

Congrats guys!!!!

1/07/2016 09:31 - Tony T.

congrats to the winners, I'd be thrilled winning that amount even !

1/07/2016 09:28 - Amit d.

1000 million

1/07/2016 08:21 - Michelle B.

I've never been struck by lightning either.... Yet!

1/07/2016 08:08 - Krystle D.

Good luck everyone!!!

1/07/2016 08:03 - allan g.

2nd corinthians9;8

1/07/2016 07:30 - Roger K.

WOW! 7 wins 50,000, but no 5 numbers right for the 1 million win in NC! But I Bought my dollars worth for MM and bought my 2 dollars worth for Powerball. Thought I would get them early this time! Maybe it will change my luck! might be multiple winners this time i hope! There was a total of 218,984 winners in North Carolina last night.670,971 winners in California PB drawing. Even in South Carolina there was 108,840 winners in last night drawing! Out of all the states that was playing Powerball there was this amount of Total Winners: 7,124,983.. www.powerball.com

1/07/2016 07:30 - richard w.

From the mountains to the coast thats whats up, good luck 2 all on 1.9.2016

1/07/2016 07:27 - Donyell B.

This is awesome goodluck every one and God Bless!! 2016????

1/07/2016 07:15 - steven m.

**************PLEASE PLEASE BE ME*********I COULD DO SO MUCH GOOD WITH THAT MONEY**********MONEY MONEY MONEY***********HAPPY NEW YEAR

1/07/2016 06:15 - Tanya M.

Praying for everyone; however I pray I win!!! Cause the struggle is real!

1/07/2016 05:43 - Melissa A.

I want to win it

1/07/2016 05:05 - joseph a.

I'm next!joke only

1/07/2016 05:00 - Cindy G.

Very rarely anybody on the coast, as usual.

1/07/2016 04:03 - william j.

Wow I'm next...watch...LOL

1/07/2016 03:55 - john a.

A very good chance we could see an increase up to $900 Million before the drawing !

1/07/2016 03:33 - jerry s.

It`s right where I want it....:))

1/07/2016 03:28 - Denver G.

I just had a funny thought. If the PB hits one billon dollars, which is what the powers to be have wanted. Are the gas station displays and bill boards equipped to display that amount? I think a while back, I remember the commissioner joking about the possibility. That would be too funny. NC Lottery
$1 billion would be too big for our billboards and jackpot signs. Web site and store displays could handle it though. Stay tuned. You might get your laugh.

1/07/2016 02:27 - Nathalie C.

Omg good luck..

1/07/2016 01:44 - EBONE P.

Congrats to you all!!!!!! Super excited!! :D

1/07/2016 01:29 - lisa p.

Scratch offs are getting just as bad as Powerball can't one on even one of them maybe we all need to quit and just save our money . if

1/07/2016 01:25 - James S.

Awesome, nice to see NC winners. Good luck, someone is in for a nice 2016!!

1/07/2016 12:48 - William D.

That's amazing Lucky Seven won a good chunk of the Millions up for grabs, and my small town of Lumberton was lucky enough to be one of them!!!! Getting closer. Good Luck ya'll.

1/07/2016 11:54 - Jennifer L.

Most people on Powerball win the lesser amounts which are based on the power play. I ran the numbers for all 104 drawings in 2015. The x2 was 52, x3 was 33, x4 was 12 and x5 was 7. From Sept through Dec which is 35 weeks there were no x5, 3 x4, 13 x3, and 19 x2. Too bad the power play was 82% x2 or x3 and only 18% x4 or x5. Good Luck on Saturday for a NC winner and a x4 or x5 power play!! Did I read the rules correctly that there is a x10 power play? Wouldn't that be great to happen. NC Lottery
10X multiplier is available when jackpot is between $40 million and $150 million. Not tonight.

1/07/2016 11:52 - Alexander N.

Its soon to be this Saturday!

Win up to $1,000,000 every 4 minutes

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Powerball jackpot increased to $700 million

January 7, 2016 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:27 AM

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